Boat burns off Cott

Plumes of black smoke could be seen after a 21 metre boat caught fire this morning two kilometres off Cottesloe Beach. DFES – the Department of Fire and Emergency Services – as well as marine rescue and water police were alerted to the blaze.

The two men on board had to jump ship and were rescued by a police dinghy – they are now reported safe and uninjured.

Credit – Unknown

A firefighting vessel was on the scene soon enough, but the boat is destroyed. It has been reported that the fire ignited in the vessel’s engine bay.

This further photograph just to hand in the public domain was taken from the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter.

Thank goodness the two men on board are unharmed. But Boaties, it’s a reminder to please check your safety equipment, including fire extinguishers, EPIRBS etc without delay.

* Story by Jean Hudson @jeansodyssey. Jean is our Shipping Correspondent and also a regular feature writer and photographer here on the Shipping News. You may also like to follow up her informative Places I Love stories, as well as other feature stories and Freo Today photographs, right here.

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